Palmer Easter Sunday

There will be feasts and bunnies and colored eggs. In Palmer there will be carefully orchestrated reunions, April Fool jokes, religious services, bonfires, and chocolate. It’s a good time of year. Oh yes, and there will be snow.

Oxygen and money—The major qualification for an Alaskan PFD is that you inhale oxygen in the State of Alaska. We do nothing to earn this money at all, except breathe. But you must have your application postmarked this week. And please remember all the worthy Pick/Click/Give Palmer nonprofits, when you file.

Wise Woodpeckers in Palmer—Woodpeckers use drumming as a territorial announcement. Our Palmer woodpeckers realize that strong resonance in drumming is an impressive act in their successful spring courtship. Therefore they seek out chimney flues, drainpipes, and flag poles. One particular woodpecker has discovered the benefits of a nearby cell tower. Drumming on the cell tower’s wooden fixture is amplified by the aluminum dishes, which boosts the intensity and magnifies the volume.

Palmer Birders Happy—There have been documented sightings of Pine Siskin, Boreal Owl, American Robin, Bohemian Cedar Waxwing, Short-eared owl, Great horned Owl, Spruce Grouse, White Winged Crossbill, plenty of woodpeckers (hairy, black backed and three toed varieties), Willow Ptarmigan, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, Gray Jays, Boreal and Black Capped Chickadees, Snow Buntings, Hawks (Rough Legged, Red Tailed, Northern, and Sharp shinned), dozens of Golden Eagles, White Tailed Ptarmigan, Pine grosbeaks, hundreds of European starlings, our friendly Common raven, Ruffed Grouse, Mallard, Common Redpolls, and a full congress of Black billed Magpie. The sightings increase as the birds return.

Best Bird Hotspots near Palmer—The hotspots for bird sightings may be your own back yard, however here are some authentic locations promising birds aplenty: Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge at the Cottonwood Creek Access; Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge; Gunsight Mountain at milepost 120 on the Glenn highway; Jim Lake in Jim Creek near the Butte; And the Old Matanuska Townsite is another good bird watching location. Hatcher Pass Gold Mint Trail never disappoints along with the Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace on the Old Glenn Highway. Independence Mine, Palmer UAF Matanuska Experiment Farm on S. Georgeson Drive, Sheep Mountain Lodge, Bodenburg Butte, and the Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area are other sites.

My personal favorite is the Palmer-Matanuska River overlook at MP 50 on the Glenn Highway. This was affectionately known as the blow hole. Be prepared for a spectacular view, a bit of vertigo and more than a few gusts at this blustery outcrop. My other favorites are the Palmer pond east of 49th State Street, open farmland south of Inner Springer Loop, the Musk Ox farm, Little Su River Bridge on Edgerton Parks Road and of course the most beautiful eagle place in the world, our Central Landfill.

Hungry Moose and Grumpy Bears—On those snowshoe trips and ski-jours, stay alert. Everything is waking up. Migratory birds are returning and owls are everywhere. Pregnant moose are lumbering about. Bears are bumbling about—And all are are hungry and grouchy. It is the time to be alert. Bears are coming out from hibernation and are looking for food. Bird feeders, compost piles, and garbage cans attract hungry bears so make these things scarce and secure. You may not see a bear in downtown Palmer, but they are very close in the neighborhoods and forests surrounding town. It’s a beautiful time of year but be aware.

Enjoy April!—Get your mud boots out because here comes break up! Stay Safe Palmer!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group.. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222